Mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of predetermined numbers of events



K. H. ANDREN MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING AUTOMATIC REPETITION OF PREDETERMINED NUMBERS OF EVENTS Nov. 29, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 13, 1945 QZM/XWW HTTOE/VEVIS'.

NOV. 1949 K. H. ANDREN 2,489,474

MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING AUTOMATIC REPETITION OF PREDETERMINED NUMBERS OF EVENTS Filed Aug. 13, 1945 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l-I Miriam/111mm 1949 K. H. ANDREN MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING AUTOMATIC HEPETITION OF PREDETERMINED NUMBERS OF EVENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Au 13, 1945 @Qiw 6/ if I 64- Z4- wwiww ATTOPA/EVS.

Nov. 29, 1949 K. H. ANDREN 2,489,474

MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING AUTOMATIC REPETITION OF PREDETERMINED NUMBERS OF EVENTS Filed Aug. 15, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 yam M [N V EN TOR.

Mal/5M i atented Nov. 29, 1949 MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING AUTOMATIC REPETITION OF PREDETERMINED NUM- BEES OF EVENTS Karl H. Andren,

Greenfield, Wis., assignor to Counter and Control Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 13, 1945, Serial No. 610,573

24 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the construction and operation of devices for effecting repetition of events, that is, mechanisms for elfecting automatic repetition of any predetermined number of performances after each pre-selected number of said performances has been accomplished.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism for effecting repetition of a predetermined number of events, which is simple and compact in construction, highly reliable and efficient in operation, and flexible in its adaptations.

It has heretofore been proposed to utilize a cycle repeating mechanism in conjunction with a. registering device such as a counter, for the purpose of controlling and counting the operation of machines in definite successive cycles each comprising a predetermined number of operations or performances, and while these prior assemblages were quite successful and satisfactory for their intended purposes, they were also quite complicated due to the inclusion of delicate and intricate counting mechanisms therein. In most cases, it is very desirable to modify, stop, repeat, or reverse the operation or functioning of a machine or other device, only after a predetermined number of performances constituting a definite cycle, have been efiected; and the actual counting or registration of these performances within the limits of each cycle is of no interest whatever to the user. All that the operator is interested in is to insure accurate performance of the cycle repeating mechanism and in the adaptability to adjust the same so as to insure proper and automatic functioning thereof after each cycle of pre-selected magnitude has been fully completed.

When utilizing such control mechanisms, it is sometimes desirable to drive the mechanism directly from the controlled machine, while in other cases the repeating mechanism may preferably be driven from a source of power independently of the controlled apparatus. It may also be necessary or desirable in some instances to provide several of these mechanisms for controlling several operations of the same machin and conditions may also be such that a single cycle repeating unit could be utilized to control several operations performed by the same apparatus. Then too, when the such control mechanism is utilized to actuate one or more switches for controlling the operation of electric motors, it is frequently desirable to cause the switches to slow down and to thereafter stop the motors when the successive cycles have actually been completed, and the prior cycle repeating mechanisms were not well adapted to meet these various operatin conditions without introducing undesirable complications.

It is therefore a more specific object of the present invention to provide a new and useful repetition control unit which may be readily utilized to accurately perform its intended duty under varying conditions of operation and use, and which is devoid of complicated counting and registering mechanisms.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism for eifecting repetition of events which is operable from either a rotary or oscillatory driving source, and which may be either directly operated by the controlled machine or mechanism or driven independently thereof.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide mechanism for controlling the periodic actuation of one or more switches for efiecting actuation of motors driving diverse types of machines, including the provision of means for effecting accurate timing of the switch operations.

Still another specific object of my invention is to provide an improved operation repeating assemblage having stationary conveniently adjustable indicating means adapted to constantly show the precise nature of the cycle for which the device is set.

Another additional object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for producing reoccurrence of selected groups of operations or events, which may be promptly and accurately reset to vary the predetermined magnitude of the groups, either while the device is operating or when it is inactive.

A further additional object of this invention is to provide a periodic repetition unit which is simple, compact, and light, but of sturdy construction, and which is effectively operable at high or low speeds and may be conveniently and quickly reset at the beginning of each new series of cycles.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved assembly for effecting automatic repetition of successive selected numbers of events, all parts of which are readily accessible for inspection while being normally well concealed and protected, and which is also provided with a safety stop for protecting the mechanism in case it is erroneously installed or applied.

An additional object of my invention is to provide an improved performance repeating device operable with minimum power and which may be manufactured for diverse uses at moderate cost; and which also embodies improved clutch and gear mechanism operable by a continuously revolving or oscillating shaft to impart periodic reverse movement to a driven element.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several improved features constituting my present invention, and of the mode of constructing and of operating several types of mechanisms built in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation er one of the improved control mechanisms;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same mechanism looking toward the adjusting knob thereof;

Fig. 3 is an opposite side elevation of the same mechanism, looking toward the adjustable indicator thereof;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through the mechanism taken along the irregular line 4-4 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 5 is another transverse vertical section through the mechanism taken along the irregular line 55 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the same mechanism, looking toward the end of the power or driving shaft;

Fig. '7 is a transverse section through the mechanism showing the indicator intermediate its limits of adjustment, the section being taken along the irregular line 11 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section through the mechanism taken along the line 8-8 01' Fig. 4, but with the indicator and wheel disposed at the extreme left limit of adjustment and travel;

Fig. 9 is another transverse vertical section through the mechanism, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal developed section through the mechanism with parts positioned as in Fig. 7, and taken along the irregular line Ill-40 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is another fragmentary longitudinal developed section through the mechanism with parts positioned as in Fig. 7, and taken along the line Il-|I of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is an end view of several of the transmission gears showing the main reversing'clutch;

Fig. 13 is an end view of one of the gears showing the auxiliary reversing clutch;

Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical section through the mechanism similar to that of Fig. 4, but showing the device cooperating with a series of electric switches;

Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical section through a somewhat modified type of control mechanism, taken along the line l5-l5 of Fig. 16; and

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through the modified structure of Fig. 15, taken along the irregular line l6-|6 of Fig. 15.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as being especially applicable to mechanisms for controlling machines or the like with the aid of electric switches operable by "the repeater, it is to be understood that it is not my desire or intention to unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the device by virtue of this limited disclosure. It is also my intention to have specific terms used herein given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the prior art; but it is to be specifically understood that the present mechanism is not a counting or performance registering device, and is in fact an actuating device for producing repetition of successive groups of events, operations or performances of similar preselected magnitude.

Referring to the drawings, and especially Figs. 1 to 14 inclusive, the improved control mechanism specifically illustrated therein comprises in general a main casing consisting of a casing body l8, opposite end heads [9, 20 and an upper cover 2|; a driving element or power shaft 22 journalled for rotation in the body I 8 and end head I9 and having thereon integral helical gear teeth 23; a clutch shaft 24 journalled for rotation in the casing body I8 and in a bracket 25 detachably secured to the body within the end head 19, and being drivingly connected to the power shaft 22 by a clutch gear 26 through a main or safety clutch 21, while its medial portion is provided with integral spur gear teeth forming a wide gear 28; a counter shaft 29 also journalled for rotation in the body l3 and bracket 25 and having thereon integral laterally spaced sets of gear teeth forming gears 3D, 31 of which the gear 39 meshes directly with the spur gear 28; a driven shaft 32 journalled for rotation in the body l8 and in the opposite end head 2e and having thereon a pair of laterally spaced reversing ring gears 33, 34, alternately drivingly connectible to the shaft 32 by means of a reversing clutch 35, the gear 28 being drivingly cooperable with the ring gear 34 through the gears 30, 3| and also being directly cooperable with the ring gear 33, and the shaft 32 also having thereon integral parallel elongated gear teeth 36; a timing member or wheel 31 having peripheral radially and laterally projecting teeth 38 normally meshing with the driven shaft teeth 36, and being provided with an internally threaded hub 39 secured thereto by a lock nut forming an annular groove and coacting with a threaded spindle 40 normally fixedly secured to the casing body it and end head 20; a pair of cams or abutments ll, 92 associated with the opposite sides of the wheel 31 and being angularly adjustable about the spindle axis to various predetermined settings; an indicating and reversing member 52 having an internally threaded hub 43 coacting with an elongated adjusting and supporting screw 44 rotatably adjustably journalled in the body I 8 and end head 26; a slide 45 carried by the member 42 and cooperating with the abutment ii, and another slide 94 carried by the casing l3 and which is cooperable with the other abutment 92, to actuate mechanism such as a machine control switch 45 whenever a predetermined number of operations has been completed; an indicator 4! carried by the member 52 and coacting with an external gage plate All mounted upon the body 18; and an adjusting knob 49 secured to the outer end of the screw 44 having calibrations coacting with a setting mark 50 on the end head 20.

The sectional main casing is so constructed that the end heads I9, 29 are readily removable by merely releasing clamping nuts 5i, and that thecover 2i may be swung open at will aboutits suspension hinge 52, and the normally concealed bearing bracket 25 is firmly but detachably secured to the casing body 3 by cap screws 53, while dowel pins 54 serve to insure proper assembly of the casing. The main casing is also provided with a receptacle 55 at the side thereof opposite to the indicator 41, and within which the switch 46 is removably confined, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 7; and the conduit 56 for enclosing the electric wiring for the switch may be attached to the receptacle 55 with the aid of aconnector 51. It is to be noted, however, that the control switch 46 may be replaced by any other suitable control apparatus for either stopping or otherwise affecting the controlled machine or device, whenever a group of operations of predetermined magnitude has been completed.

The main power or driving shaft 22 as more specifically illustrated in Figs. 1 to 14 inclusive, is journalled for either continuous or intermittent rotation at any desired high or low speed, in alined bearings 58, 59 carried by the body l8 and end head [9 respectively; and this shaft 22 is preferably provided with end. thrust collars 60 beyond the opposite ends of the helical gear teeth 23, in order to prevent axial shifting of the shaft, see Figs. 8, 10 and 11. One end of the main clutch shaft 24 is mounted in a bearing 6| while the medial portion thereof is journalled in the bracket 25, and the opposite safety clutch end of the shaft 24 is transversely slotted and has a. disc or plate 62 rigidly attached thereto, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The main safety clutch 21 comprises a slide 63 coacting with the transverse slot in the end of the shaft 24 and having an outer edge 64 cooperable with any one of a series of notches 65 formed in the gear 26; a pointed spring pressed plunger 66 slidable axially within a central bore formed in the shaft 24 and having its pointed end cooperable with opposite sides of a V-projection 61 formed in a notch at one end of the slide 63; and a reset pin 68 mounted in the casing end head I9 coaxial with the shaft 24 and having a conical inner end normally engaging a V-notch 69 formed in the opposite end of the slide 63 centrally of the shaft axis, see Figs. 10 and 11.

This safety clutch assemblage is such, that if the rotation of the drive shaft 22 continues after the revolution of the shaft 24 has been arrested for any reason, the slide 63 will be forced radially inwardly to cause the plunger 66 to be moved axially against the compression spring until the point of the depressed plunger 66 snaps over the V-projection 6! and the V-notch 69 pushes the floating resetting pin 68 outwardly. The slide 33 will then be held in inactive position by the spring pressed plunger 66 until the floating pin 68 is pushed inwardly into the V-notch 69 with sufficient force to again cause the plunger to snap back over the projection 61 in the reverse direction, and to thereby restore the elements to the active position as illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. The main clutch 21 therefore acts as a safety device which will permit the shaft 22 to rotate continuously even if the shaft 24 is stopped, without damaging any of the parts.

The counter shaft 29 has one end mounted in a bearing 10 carried by the casing body 18 while its opposite end is journalled in the bracket 25, and the gears 30, 31 may be formed integral with this shaft as shown in Fig. 10. The driven shaft 32 with which the reversing clutch 35 and gears 33, 34 are associated, has its forward end jourpalled in a bearing 1 I carried by the front end head 20, while its opposite end portion is pressed into a collar 12 journalled in a bearing 13 secured to the casing body l8, and this collar is also provided with an end plate 14 which bears against a headed stud l5 pressed into the bracket 25, see Figs. 10 and 11. The collar I2 is transversely slotted, and a reversing clutch slide 16 is slidably mounted in the transverse slot, being provided with opposite off-set projections 11, I8 which are alternately cooperable with notches 19, formed in the reversing ring gears 33, 34 respectively, see Figs. 10, 11 and 13. These laterally spaced ring gears 33, 34 are rotatable about the collar 12 between the bearing 13 and the plate 14, and the slide 16 is provided with an end notch having a central V-projection 8| with which the point of a spring pressed plunger 82 slidably confined in a bore of the shaft 32, is cooperable. There are five notches I9, 80 in the gears 33, 34 and the spacing of these notches and the formation of the notches and slide, is such, that when one of the projections I1, 18 is leaving a notch, the opposite projection will immediately enter another of the notches adjacent to the opposite end of the slide even before the active drive has been interrupted. This action is due to the fact that the overall length of the slide 16 is greater than the diameter of the bores of the annular gears 33, 34, as clearly shown in Fig. 13.

This reversing clutch assemblage is therefdre such that when the rotation of the shaft 32 is stopped or excessively retarded, the driving ring gear 33 or 34 will shift the slide projection 11 or 18 Whichever is then active, out of the adjacent notch 19 or 80, and will cause the pointed plunger 82 to be retracted against the compression spring, until the plunger point snaps over the central V-projection 8i. The spring acting in conjunction with the pointed plunger 82 will thereafter promptly shift the slide 16 within its confining slot so as to cause the other previously inactive projection 11 or 18 to engage a notch 13 or 80 of the other ring gear 33 or 34, thus prompt- 1y reversing the rotation of the shaft 32 with respect to the continuously rotating shaft 24. This reversing action takes place automatically whenever the rotation of the shaft 32 is stopped; and if the timing of the clutching is wrong, due to faulty adjustment or otherwise, then there will be no notch 19, 80 in line with the slide 16 to receive the same, and the safety clutch 21 will immediately become effective to stop the shaft 24.

While helical gears 23, 26 may be utilized in the drive preceding the clutches 21, 35, the gear teeth 36 of the driven shaft 32 must be straight and parallel, since the teeth 38 of the wheel 31 normally mesh with the teeth 36 and are adapted to slide therealong as the wheel 31 rotates. As previously indicated, the hub 39 of the wheel 31 is internally threaded and cooperates with the external screw threads of the spindle 40 which is normally fixedly mounted in the casing, so that rotation of the shaft 32 in either direction will cause the teeth 36 to revolve the wheel 31, thereby causing this wheel to simultaneously travel along the threaded spindle 40. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the threaded upper spindle 40 is mounted upon eccentric bearing pins 83 carried by the casing body l8 and end head 20, and the spindle 40 is provided with a knurled end nut 84 firmly attached thereto. The nut 84 is nor mally locked in active position by a spring pressed friction ball latch 85 so that the wheel teeth 38 will remain in mesh with the teeth 36 of the shaft 7 92, but when the cover 2! is liftedan'd "the nut 84 is forcibly rotated one-hundred and eighty degrees, the eccentric pin mounting of the spindle All will cause the wheel teeth 38 to be moved out of engagement with the shaft teeth 36, there by permitting the toothed wheel 31 to be freely rotated or spun for adjustment purposes.

In order to facilitate accurate setting of the mechanism so as to veryprecisely predetermine the magnitude of each cycle, the toothed wheel 31 is provided with an annular series of markings or calibrations preferably ranging from zero to one-hundred, and which represent individual performances or operations of the controlled machine or device, so that one revolution of the wheel 31 will be effected by one-hundred such performances or operations. The screw adjusting knob 49 is likewise accurately provided with an annular series or calibrations 81 preferably ranging from zero to one-hundred, and each of which also represents one one-hundredth revolution of the wheel 33'! so that one revolution of the screw will adjust the indicator a distance equal to the travel represented by one-hundred per tormances The gage tal with which the indicator 4'! coacts, is provided with accurate calibrations 88 ranging from zero to any number within the limits of travel of the wheel ill and of the length of the screw M, and each of these calibrations B8 represents one complete revolution of the wheels"! or one-hundred operations or'periormances oi the controlled machine or device. As previousiy indicated, the timing member or wheel 3"! has stop cams or abutments 4|, 92 adjustably associated with its opposite'sides and which are cooperable with the slides 55, 54 respectively whenever the'wheel 3'1 has completed a predetermined cycle of operations 01' perform ances, and the abutment is carrieddirectly by an angularly adjustable spring steel arm 39 pivotally mounted upon the hub and having a pointer 80 adapted to cooperate with the wheel calibrations 85. The outer end of this arm 89 is provided with several teeth to: which are adapted to be inserted between or removed from the laterally projecting portions of the adjacent wheel teeth 38, by flexing the resilient arm; and a screw knob 9| which may also be'utilized to lock the cam abutment t! in various positions of adjustment, can he used to iacilitate'flexing'and adjustment of the arm relative to the wheel 37. The other abutment 332 on the opposite'side of the wheel may also be adjustably secured to the'adjacent face of the wheel by means of'a clamping screw iiifi, as clearly shown in Figs 4 and 8, and this second abutmentfii! is formed to cooperate with the other slide 94 which is mounted in the casing body shown in Figsi 1 and 7. Both of the slides 45,84 are cooperabl with an elongated horizontal plate '95 which is attached to a pivot shaf t 55;; and is spring pressed toward the slides 94 by one or more springs 91. The pivot shai h imay also be'provided-with a lever arm which may be caused to coact with the actuating button or stem of a single control switch 46 as illustrated in Fig. 4,-but other types or control devices and multiple switches may ob viously be su ituted for this switch 16.

In the rag of Fig. 14, for ex ample, f a tua'ted switches at tar, as" no single or 1 ii? of is sv'itcl'ios are housed W. in a I ceptacie cured to the casin ody.i.- and 'are'operable'in successionby a caini'od 99 whichis urged toward ratchet drive comprises an oscillatory arrn eases 8 the actuating lever 98 by a compression spring Till). The modified abutment cams 4i", aware split and the several sections thereof 'are'adijustably secured to the opposite sides of the toothed wheel 31 by means of clamping screws respectively, and the cams 92 and the cam rod are so formed and cooperable with each other, that the switches 48, 46', 46 will be actuated in succession at the end of each completion of a selected number of operations or performances of the controlled machine or de vice.

In order to positively stop and thereby reverse the rotation of the timing wheel 3'1 exactly upon completion of each group or selected number 01 operation, this wheel is provided at one side with a protruding pin lill which is cooperable with 'a fixed pin 5G2 carried by the body 18 near the slide land the adjustable indicator member 41 is provided with a pin I53 which is coopera'ble w th the side 89" of the flexible pointer plate or arm 29 associated with the opposite side of the wheel 'Sl, seeFigs. 4, '7, 8 and 9. The rotation of the wheel 32 will thus be momentarily positively stopped upon the completion of each selected group of operations, in order to stop the rotation of the toothed shaft t2 so as to cause the reversing cluta. to act; and the abutment adv justing arm p eferably formed of resilient material such as spring steel, and is provided at its outer swinging end with the series of ac% curately formed teeth in which are adapted to be broug t into registry with the recesses between the laterally projecting portions of the successive teeth 38 of the wheel 37 as previously described. These teeth Hi l enable the operator to accurately set and to positively maintain the pointer 90 in various positions of adjustment with respect to the calibrations 85 by merely flexing the arm-8: 3 withthc aid of the knob 55, andth e stop pin H33 carried hy the member 4 is co; operable with the side 89 of the arm 83 closel adjacent to the teeth i8 3 thereon.

Wt e the control unit shown in l to 14; inclusive is operableby a continuously or an in} termittently rotatable power shaft 22, the same mechanism may also be driven with sllghtmodification, .byan oscillating drive shaft 22 as ill 11S? trated in Figs. 15 and 16. The oscillatory power shaft .222 is mounted for oscillation in bearings 53, 55 carried by the casing body l8 and end head I!) respectively, but additionally coacts with bracket 25 etachably secured to the body N cap screws Instead of a gear 26, a ratchet tion converting drive is interposed between he power shai 222' and the main clutch shaft 24. and this shaft 2 t may also be provided witha safety crutch 21 as in Figs. 10 and 11. This 185 secured to the oscillating shaft 22' by a pin i an oscillatory pawl carrier plate id? swingab y mounted upon the hub of a ratchet wheel I08 secured to the shaft 2Q by a pin liiil; a link Sill pivotaily attached to and connecting the swing} ing ends of the arm I65 and plate iiil; an oscil lating spring pressed pawl Hl carried. by the plate it! and being cooperable with the teeth of the'wheel I98; and another spring pressed pawl H2 pivotally suspended from the fixed bracket 25 and also coacting with the ratchet wheei teeth. A helical. tension spring H3 embracing the-shaft 22' may also be interposed between'th bracket 25' andcollar Bf; secured to this sh'aifti in order 'to' eliminate undesirable lost motion and to return the shaft'22 if powered in one direction only, in which case provision must also be made for permitting return oscillation of the shaft 22 under the influence of the spring H3; and this modified assemblage is obviously such that the oscillatory motion of the shaft 22' will be 0011-. stantly converted into rotary movement of the shafts 24, 29.

The improved control mechanism may obviously be utilized for many purposes, and since the normal operation of all of the units disclosed herein, is substantially the same, it will suffice to describe the operation of only one type. During such normal operation of the device, the indicator 41' should first be accurately set, preferably while the mechanism is at rest, so as to insure the desired functioning of the repeater and control of the machine with which the repeater unit is associated. Such initial adjustment may be readily effected by lifting the casing cover 2| and by properly setting the resilient pointer arm 89 and adjusting the cam abutments 4|, 92 if necessary with the aid of the screws 9!, 93. If it is desired to spin or to quickly advance the timing wheel 31 upon its supporting screw spindle 40, the screw spindle 40 may be turned half a revolution with the aid of the nut 84, so as to temporarily lift the wheel teeth 38 out of engagement with the teeth 36 of the driven shaft 32; whereupon the wheel 31 may be quickly rotated or spun in order to rapidly advance the same along the spindle 49. Since the screw 44 is journalled for free rotation in the casing body 13 and end head 26 and is positively prevented from moving axially, rotation of the knob 49 and of the screw will obviously cause the indicating member 42 to travel along the fixed screw 44; and the final position of the indicator 41 will accurately predetermine the number of operations to be performed during each reversal, in hundreds, while the final setting of the pointer 90 relative to the wheel calibrations 86 and of the knob calibrations 81 relative to the mark 50, will likewise accurately predetermine the number of operations to be included in each reversal in excess of even hundreds. For example, if the indicator is set approximately to 1150 and the pointer 93 and knob 49 are set to fifty, the number of operations which will be performed during each reversal will be exactly 1150, and the reversing clutch 35 will act immediately whenever 1150 successive operations have been performed by the controlled machine.

After such initial and accurate adjustment or setting of the control mechanism has been effected, the power or driving shaft 22 may be either continuously or intermittently rotated at any desired high or low speed, whereupon the shafts 24, 29 will be rotated in definite directions through the gear 26 and main clutch 21. When the parts of the reversing clutch 35 are in the position shown in Figs. and 11, the projection 18 of the slide 16 will engage a notch 88 of the ring gear 34 and will be active to transmit rotary motion of the clutch shaft 24 through the gear 28 and gear teeth 30 to the counter-shaft 29, and from thence through the teeth 3i and ring gear 34 to the driven shaft 32, thereby causing the teeth 36 to revolve the element or wheel 31 in one direction and to travel along the threaded spindle 40 in a definite direction. The toothed wheel 31 will then continue to revolve and travel in such definite direction until the abutment 4|. 92 on the leading face thereof, en-

gages the corresponding slide bar 45, 64, and assoon as this happens, the engaged bar will press the plate 95 downwardly to thereby actuate the switch 46 and the revolution of the wheel 31 will promptly thereafter be arrested by the adjacent stop pin I02, I03. This stoppage of the wheel 31 will immediately arrest the rotation of the shaft 32, and the stoppage of this shaft 32 will cause the slide projection 13 of the reversing clutch 35 to be forced out of the notch and will also cause the plunger 82 to snap over the central slide projection 8!, thereby drivingly connecting the other ring gear 33 with the shaft 32 through a notch 19, the slide projection 11, and the slide 16.

If the opening of the switch 46 at either end of the pre-set limit of travel of the wheel 31, stops the controlled machine which normally drives the power shaft 22, then the control mechanism or unit will also stop; but if the switch 46 or some substitute therefor, does not in fact arrest the continued rotation of the drive shaft 22, the actuation of the plate may merely control some other mechanism, and the stopping of the wheel 31 will ordinarily merely reverse the direction of travel of the wheel 31 along the threaded spindle 40 so that the unit will continue to function indefinitely to accurately account for each operation or event during each successive reversal. Any desired number of repetitions of the selected number of operations may thus be automatically repeated, and the setting of the arm 83, knob 49 and indicator 41 will obviously accurately predetermine the exact number of performances or operations included in each of the successive cycles. The reversing clutch 35 will normally be effective to produce automatic repetition of these cycles; but if the motion of the wheel 31 or of the shafts 32, 29, 24 is obstructed for any reason, and the power shaft 22 continues to rotate, then the safety clutch 21 will function to automatically disconnect the shafts 22, 24 and will thus avoid possible damage to the unit or mechanism. Resetting of the clutch 21 may however be rapidly and conveniently effected with the aid of the floating pin 68 which also acts as an indicator to show when the clutch 21 has become inactive.

While the switch 46 is normally opened and closed near the end of each group of operations, by travel of the wheel 31 in either direction, it may in some instances become desirable to cause the switch 46 to be thrown considerably before the end of each selected period is reached, and in such cases the stop pin H13 may be caused to function and to stop and reverse the wheel 31 only after the abutment 4| has engaged the slide bar 45 and the element or wheel 31 has been permitted to travel a predetermined additional distance. Then too, it may be desirable to cause a series of switches 46, 46', 46" to operate in rapid succession before the movement of the wheel is reversed, in which case modified cam abutments 4|, 92' such as shown in Fig. 14 may be utilized. If the motion of the power shaft 22 is oscillatory instead of rotary, the control mechanism or unit may be modified as in Figs. 15 and 16, but in every instance the magnitude of each group in terms of rotations of or in pulses from the shaft 22, will be precisely the same for an predetermined setting of the unit, and the lengths of the shaft 32,

spindle 40, and screw 44 may be made to suit the.

intended purposes for which the control mechanism is to be utilized. The improved apparatus is however purely a means for insuring accurate repetition of selected numbers of operations and is not adapted to count or to register or record the number of operations or performances in each successive group, or the number of successlve reversals which have been performed.

From the foregoing detailed description o'f'the construction and operation of my improved repe tition unit, it should be apparent that the i ven tion provides an assemblage which besides being simple, compact and durable in construction, is highly reliable and eflicient in operation and is also extremely flexible in its adaptations. The improved mechanism may be quickly and conveniently set to producemost accurate performance, and all elements of the unit are readily accessible' for adjustment and inspection while being well protected against possible damage. The indicator 41 while being constantly visible, is stationary for any predetermined setting, and the improved clutches 21, while performing their functions automatically and accurately, are so constructed that they operate with minimum eliort and are exceedingly sensitive but reliable The safety clutch 2'! merely acts to protect the mechanism under abnormal conditions of opera-- tion, while the reversing clutch 35- is effective to reverse the rotation of the driven shaft 232 iznmediately upon stoppage of the travel of the element or wheel 31 along the spindle id op-' posite directions; and the eccentric mounting of the screw spindle 4G greatly facilitates setting of the indicator 41. The improved cycle repeater unit may be manufactured in various s moderate cost, and has a wide range of EEIOpHUZttions for various uses in diverse industries.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exactdetails of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein 1.

shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims, may occur to persons skilled in the art; and the term "operations as used in the claims is intended to include any events, performances, or periodic functions of a machine, apparatus or other device.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, an axially movable and revolvable wheel, means for definitely predetermining the extent of axial movement of said wheel,'a driven shaft for revolving said wheel to effect said axial movement, a driving shaft, and clutch mechanism interposed between said driving and d iven for automatically reversing the direc n or :ial movement and revolution of said wheel whenever the latter has moved to its opposite limiting positions as fixed by said motion predetermining means.

2. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, an axially movable and revolvable wheel, means carried by said wheel for definitely'predetermining the extent of axial movement'of said wheel, a driven shaft for revolving said-wheel about its axis of movement to effect said movement, a driving shaft, and clutch mechanism interposed between said driving and driven 'shaf s" for automatically reversing thedirection of rovo lution of said wheel whenever the latter has moved to its opposite limiting positions as fixed by said motion predetermining cans and for thereby reversing the direction of movement of the wheel.

3. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a peripherally toothed movable wheel, an" adjustable indicator for definitely predetermin-f ing the extent of movement of said Wheel, a-

12 driven shaft having parallel teeth cooperable with the teeth of said wheel to revolve the latter and to effect movement thereof, a power shaft, and clutch mechanism interposed between said power and driven shafts for automatically reversing the direction of revolution of said wheel whenever the latter has travelled to its opposite limiting positions as fixed by the adjustment of said indicator.

4:. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations; a revolvable and axially movable perlpherally toothed wheel, an adjustable indicator for definitely predetermining the extent of axial movement of said wheel, a driven shaft having parallel teeth cooperable with the teeth of wheel to revolve the latter and to effect axial movement thereof, a power shaft, clutch mecha-' nism interposed between said power and driven shafts for automatically reversing the direction of revolution of said wheel whenever the latter has travelled axially to its opposite limiting or sitions as fixed by the adjustment of indtor, and a switch operable by said wheel whenever each of said limiting positions is approached.

5. In a mechanism for eifecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, means for periodically arresting the rotation of said driven shaft, a transverse slide carried by said driven shaft and having oppositely directed oft-set driving projections extending away from the chi H shaft axis, a pair of ring gears embracing said driven shaft at said ofi-set slide projections, each of said gears having an internal notch drivi- :ly cooperable with the adjacent slide projection, reversing gears interposed between said driving shaft and said ring gears, and means for shit said slide radially of its carrier shaft whenever the latter is stopped to alternately cause said ring gears to be drivingly connected to said slide.

6. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a driving shaft, a driven shaf t adapted to be periodically stopped and having a transverse slot therein, a slide movable along said slot and having staggered opposite radial projections and a central V-projection extending along the driven shaft axis, a spring pressed plunger cooperable with said v-projec ion to alternately shift said slide in opposite directions when said driving shaft is stopped, a ring gear embracing said slide at each of said radial slide proiections, each of said gears having a notch drivingly cooperable with the adjacen radial slide projection, rovers-- ing gears interposed between said driving shaft and. said ring gears, and a safety clutch interposed between said driving shaft said reversing gearing.

7. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of opera-v tions, a power shaft, an elongated driven shaft tion is arrested, a wheel having having parallel longitudinal teeth thereon, areversing clutch interposed between said shafts for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of said driven shaft whenever its rotaaf, teeth engaging said longitudinal driven shaft teeth, means for causing said wheel to travel axiaily during rotation thereof by said driven shaft, and means for arresting the travel of said Wheel predetermined intervals.

versing clutch interposed between said shafts for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of said driven shaft whenever its rotation is arrested, a wheel having peripheral teeth en gaging said longitudinal driven shaft teeth, means for causing said wheel to travel axially during rotation thereof by said driven shaft, means for arresting the travel of said wheel at predetermined intervals, and means for utilizing the movement of said wheel to periodically control a machine.

9. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of opera,- tions, a power shaft, an elongated driven shaft having parallel longitudinal teeth thereon, a reversing clutch interposed between said shafts for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of said driven shaft whenever its rotation is arrested, a wheel having peripheral teeth engaging said longitudinal driven shaft teeth, means for i effecting bodily displacement of said wheel to interrupt said tooth engagement, means for causing said wheel to travel axially during rotation thereof by said driven shaft, and means for arresting the travel of said wheel mined intervals.

10. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a power shaft, an elongated driven shaft having parallel longitudinal teeth thereon, a reversing clutch interposed between said shafts for automatically reversing the diretcion of rotation of said driven shaft whenever its rotation is arrested, a wheel having peripheral teeth engaging said longitudinal driven shaft teeth, an

eccentrically mounted screw threaded spindle upon which said wheel is revolvably supported, means for rotating said spindle to bodily displace said wheel so as to interrupt said tooth engagement, an adjustable indicator for periodically arresting the rotation of said wheel, and an adjusting screw for effecting variation in the position of said indicator.

11. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a power shaft, an elongated driven shaft having parallel longitudinal teeth thereon, a reversing clutch interposed between said shafts for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of said driven shaft whenever its rotation is arrested, a wheel having peripheral teeth engaging said longitudinal driven shaft teeth, a screw threaded spindle revolvably supporting said wheel, an indicator member cooperable with said wheel to periodically arrest the revolution thereof, an adjusting screw supporting said indicator member, and means carried by said member for controlling a machine.

12. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a power shaft, a driven shaft, a reversing rotation transmitting clutch interposed between said shafts for automatically reversing the rotation of said driven shaft whenever its rotation is arrested, a calibrated wheel rotatable by said driven shaft and having an abutment adjustable to correspond with the wheel calibrations, means for supporting said wheel to travel axially during rotation thereof by said driven shaft, an adjustable stop for predetermining the limits of travel of said wheel, a screw supporting said stop, and a similarly calibrated element for effecting rotation of said screw to establish said predetermined limits of wheel travel.

13. In a mechanism for effecting automatic at predeter- 14 repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a power shaft, a driven shaft, a reversing rotation transmitting clutch interposed between said shafts for automatically reversing the rotation of said driven shaft whenever its rotation is arrested, a calibrated wheel rotatable by said driven shaft and having an abutment adjustable to correspond with the wheel calibrations, means for supporting said wheel to travel axially during rotation thereof by said driven shaft, an adjustable stop for predetermining the limits of travel of said wheel, a screw supporting said stop, a similarly calibrated element for effecting rotation of said screw to establish said predetermined P limits of wheel travel, and an indicator carried by said stop for predetermining the total travel of said wheel.

14. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a power shaft, a driven shaft, 2. wheel revolvable by said. driven shaft and being mounted to travel axially during its revolution, a screw disposed parallel to said wheel axis, an indicating member adjustable along said screw and being cooperable with said wheel to limit its axial travel, and a reversing clutch interposed between said shafts for reversing the directions of revolution and travel of said wheel whenever the rotation of said driven shaft is arrested.

15. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a power shaft, a switch, and means for actuating said switch at successive intervals each corresponding to a predetermined number of impulses derived from said power shaft, said means including a reversing clutch, and a revolvable and axially movable timing member, said clutch being operable to reverse the movements of said timing member whenever said movements are positively stopped.

16. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a power shaft, several switches, means for effecting relative adjustment of said switches, and means for actuating said switches at successive intervals each corresponding to a predetermined number of revolutions of said power shaft, said means including a reversing clutch, and a revolvable and axially movable timing member, said clutch being operable to reverse the revolution and axial movement of said member whenever the motion of the latter is arrested.

1'7. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a power shaft, a driven member simultaneously revolvable and movable along an axis in one direction and then simultaneously revolvable and movable along said axis in the opposite direction, two relatively adjustable abutments carried by said member, relatively adjustable slides cooperable with said abutments, and means for automatically reversing the direction of rotation and the direction of axial movement of said member whenever either of said abutments engages one of said slides during movement of the member in one direction.

18. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a driving element, a timing member reversely movable by said element to effect repetition of successive predetermined numbers of operations, spaced abutments carried by said member, spaced slides cooperable with said abutments, a reversing clutch between said element and said member, and gearing between said 15 clutch and said element and member cooperable with the clutch to reverse the movement ofthe latter whenever one of said abutments engages one of said slides and a predetermined number of said operations has been completed.

19. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a driving element, a timing member successively movable along and about an axis in opposite directions to effect repetition of succesaive predetermined numbers of operations during each period of said reverse movements, spaced abutments carried by and being movable with said member, spaced slides cooperable with said abutments, a reversing clutch between said element and said member, and gearing between said clutch and said element and member cooperable with the clutch to reverse the movement of the latter whenever one of said abutments engages one of said slides and a predetermined: number of said operations has been completed.

20. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a driving element, a timing wheel having an annular series of calibrations surroundingthe axis thereof and being movable by said element along and about said axis, spaced abutmentscarried by said wheel and being adjustable relative to said calibrations, spaced slides cooperable with said abutments, a reversing clutch between said element and said member, and gearing between said clutch and said element and member cooperable with the clutch to reverse the movement of the latter whenever one of said abutments engages one of said slides.

21. In a mechanism for eifecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a driving element, a timing wheel having an annular series of peripheral calibrations and being movable by said element along and about said axis, spaced abutments carried by said wheel and being adjustable relative to said calibrations, normally fixed slides adjustable toward and away from each other and being cooperable with said wheel abutments, a reversing clutch between said element and said member, and gearing between said clutch and said element cooperable with the clutch to automatically reverse the movement of the latter whenever one of said abutments engages one of said slides.

22. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a driving element, a driven member revolvable in opposite directions, a switch operatively connected to said member, two relatively adjustable limit stops associated with said memher. and a reversing clutch cooperating with reversing gears to automatically reverse the dlrection of rotation of said member whenever either limit stop arrests the revolution thereof "and while said reversing gears retain their driving connection.

23. In a mechanism for eiiecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a driving element, a driven member revolvable in opposite directions, a switch operatively connected to said member, two relatively adjustable limit stops associated withsaid member, and a reversing clutch cooperating with reversing gears to automatically reverse the direction of axial movement of said member whenever either limit stop arrests said movement and while said reversing gears retain their driving connection.

24. In a mechanism for effecting automatic repetition of a predetermined number of operations, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a timing member movable by said driven shaft, two spaced stops associated with said movable memberfand a reversing clutch and gears interposed between said shafts for reversing the direction of movement of said member whenever said movement has been arrested by one of said stops, said clutch being provided with reverse driving zones and with a power transmitting connection which enters one of said zones while leaving the other: and

while all of said gears retain their driving connections.

KARL H. ANDREN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS are of record inthe Aug. 30,1938 

